Former Zimbabwe Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe has been confirmed alive after false reports claiming she had died spread rapidly across social media on Thursday, triggering shock, confusion and concern among supporters and political circles.
By Advent Shoko
The rumours gained momentum after Change Radio mistakenly published a post announcing Khupe’s death before later retracting the statement and issuing a public apology.
In a correction shared afterwards, the media outlet admitted the report was inaccurate and said the information had been verified with officials from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
“CORRECTION AND APOLOGY
Change Radio sincerely apologises for an earlier post which incorrectly reported that former Deputy Prime Minister and MDC Vice President Senator Dr Thokozani Khupe had passed away.
Following verification with CCC officials, we confirm that the information was false and that Dr Khupe is alive.
The individual who has passed away is Thokozani Hove, a former MDC member, who reportedly died after battling cancer.
We extend our sincere apologies to Dr Khupe, her family, colleagues, supporters, and our audience for the distress and confusion caused by the erroneous post.”
The false report quickly circulated across Facebook, WhatsApp and X, formerly Twitter, with many Zimbabweans reacting before the correction was released.
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Khupe, a veteran politician and former vice president of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), has remained one of Zimbabwe’s most recognisable female political figures over the years. She previously served as Deputy Prime Minister during the Government of National Unity (GNU) and later led a faction of the MDC following internal party disputes after the death of founding leader Morgan Richard Tsvangirai.
The confusion surrounding the reports was intensified by ongoing public knowledge about Khupe’s health struggles. The politician has been battling cancer for some time, something that has previously sparked concern among her supporters and the broader political community.
While misinformation spreads quickly online, Thursday’s incident once again highlighted the dangers of publishing unverified reports, particularly involving sensitive matters such as illness and death.
Several social media users called for greater responsibility from media platforms and content creators, warning that false death announcements can cause emotional trauma to families, friends and supporters.
The incident also drew attention to the late Thokozani Hove, the former MDC member whose passing was mistakenly linked to Khupe. Reports indicate Hove died after battling cancer.
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